Mike Tyson has confirmed that he will tour Britain next month and would like to meet Wayne Rooney.

Tyson will talk to packed audiences at hotels in London, Birmingham and Manchester.

The sport's youngest ever world heavyweight champion quit the ring in June and has spent the summer in Europe developing his new career as a 'goodwill' ambassador.

During his seven-day visit to the UK, Tyson will help raise money for three different charities, including Kirsty's Appeal in Manchester, during his speaking engagements and other activities.

Tyson revealed: "I'd like to meet Wayne Rooney. I've been watching him and Manchester United recently and he's been having some trouble with his behaviour on the pitch.

"I could relate to what he was going through but he just seemed like he was having a good time!

"I will be going to Manchester while I'm over here. I like Manchester and I already have a Manchester United shirt."

Rumours have been going that Mike Tyson is invited to England for several speeches.

As reported by 'The Sun' Mike Tyson is set to be allowed back into Britain and is to get an estimated £50,000 for speaking in London, Manchester and Birmingham next month.

Stars including Manchester United and Chelsea players have booked tables.

Wheter these rumours are true remains to be seen.

In the meantime Mike Tyson attended the light heavyweight title bout between Antonio Tarver and Roy Jones Jr. in Tampa, Fla Saturday night, Oct. 1, 2005. Screenshots of Mike at ringside can be seen in this forum topic.

Update:
More information about the planned visit appeared as it has been reported Mike Tyson is heading to the city Birmingham as part of a three date UK tour, alongside former heavyweight opponent Frank Bruno.

Ray Fisher, who is promoting the event in the UK, said Tyson would be taking part in some community work when he was in the area.

"When he signed the contract last week, Mike has asked us to do make sure that his visit includes some form of community work and we are looking at the different possibilities in the city," added Mr Fisher, who is based in Warrington.

"He has come to spread the message that he is not the old Mike Tyson. He will talk about his career and his past, but will also look at his life now."

Mike Tyson is schedules to appear at the Birmingham Hilton Hotel on November 18. For tickets call 0800 0286844.

Source: moscowtimes
Thanks to phxmikefan

Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson traveled to Chechnya on Thursday to open a Russian national boxing tournament and said he had prayed for the war, which has been raging in the republic since 1999, to end.

"I am glad that I am in the Chechen republic that I have read and heard so much about, and am glad that I am among Muslims," Tyson said, opening the event in Chechnya's second largest town of Gudermes.

Tyson was a guest of Ramzan Kadyrov, the republic's powerful first deputy prime minister, who is a boxing enthusiast.

"We have seen on television an unfair war being waged in the Chechen republic for a long time. We in America prayed for it to end," Tyson said.

Channel One television showed Tyson wearing a T-shirt and walking in a sports stadium under sunny skies to applause and cheers from a young crowd. Tyson, apparently moved by the reception, told the crowd, "Salaam Aleikum," the channel's news anchor said. The four-day tournament is being held in memory of Ramzan Kadyrov's father, the late Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, who was assassinated in May 2004.

Ramzan Kadyrov said he had invited Tyson in order to create a holiday for young people and show that peace was returning to Chechnya, Interfax reported.

Kadyrov called Tyson by his Muslim name, Malik Abdul Aziz, Interfax reported. In Arabic, Malik means "king" and Abdul Aziz means "servant of the mighty".

Tyson spent several days in Moscow last week and appeared on a talk show as part of a tour that included stopovers in Turkey and Ukraine.

Mike Tyson left Chechnya Friday and headed for the neighboring Caucasian Republic of Daghestan, the Chechen president's spokesman said.

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, right, speaks at the opening ceremony of a boxing tournament held in memory of assassinated Chechen president Akhmad Kadyrov in Gudermes, Chechnya, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005. At left is Chechen President Alu Alkhanov. Mike Tyson on Thursday opened a boxing tournament in Chechnya, becoming the first international celebrity to visit the war-ravaged Russian republic. Other persons are unidentified.

Update: added four new pictures

More quotes and images available in the extended section of this post (click 'Read More' below).

Renowned boxer, former champion of the world among professionals Mike Tyson, has arrived in Russia’s republic of Chechnya to unveil a boxing tournament in memory of first Chechen President Akhmat Kadyrov, the press secretary of the Chechen president told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

The boxer arrived in the restive republic at the invitation of First Deputy Prime Minister of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov.

“As an honoured guest, Tyson together with Ramzan Kadyrov will unveil in Gudermes today the second all-Russia boxing tournament in memory of the first Chechen President, Akhmat Kadyrov,” the press secretary, Muslim Khuchiev, said.

According to him, “Tyson has a lot of fans in Chechnya, particularly among young athletes, who used to admire his boxing skills and learn from him,” he said.

“There will be a full house at the tournament in Gudermes today,” Khuchiev said. Renowned sports celebrities of Tyson’s level have never visited Chechnya, even in the USSR era.

“Mike Tyson is a real athlete and fighter, he immediately accepted the invitation of Ramzan Kadyrov to visit Chechnya and become an honoured guest at the boxing tournament,” the press secretary said. “We shall welcome him as dear guest in accordance with Chechen traditions and will treat him to our ancient meal, zhizhik-galnash (meat with sauce and boulettes)”.

While in Gudermes, Tyson will also visit the Ramzan sports club and meet with young boxers. The boxing tournament will continue till September 20. Hundreds of boxers from most Russian regions take part in it. Best referees from Russia and some countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States have been invited.

The visit to Chechnya is part of a tour of Russia and Ukraine Tyson is making that has been organised by the Nemirov vodka company.

On Wednesday Tyson took part in the presentation of the Olympics-2006 sports garments collection for Russia’s team. The boxer was also seen wearing a Russian team outfit.